Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §9.1.1-9.1.2

Hope for Reunion with Varro and Return to Studies

Passage 174 of 413 · Latin

Summary

The author learns of Varro's situation through a letter and expresses a strong hope for their reunion, while sharing that he has reconciled with his books since returning to Rome, and proposes options for their meeting.

§9.1.1ex iis litteris, quas Atticus a te missas mihi legit, quid ageres et ubi esses cognovi; quando autem te visuri essemus, nihil sane ex isdem litteris potui suspicari;
From those letters, which Atticus read to me as sent by you, I learned what you were doing and where you were; but when we were to see you, I could indeed surmise nothing from the same letters.
in spem tamen venio appropinquare tuum adventum; qui mihi utinam solacio sit! etsi tot tantisque rebus urgemur, ut nullam adlevationem quisquam non stultissimus sperare debeat; sed tamen aut tu potes me aut ego te fortasse aliqua re iuvare.
Nevertheless, I come into the hope that your arrival is approaching; which I pray may be a consolation to me! Although we are hard pressed by so many and such great troubles that no one, unless he be most foolish, ought to expect any relief; yet, however, either you can help me or I perhaps can help you in some way.
§9.1.2scito enim me, postea quam in urbem venerim, redisse cum veteribus amicis, id est cum libris nostris, in gratiam; etsi non idcirco eorum usum dimiseram, quod iis suscenserem, sed quod eorum me subpudebat; videbar enim mihi, cum me in res turbulentissimas infidelissimis sociis demisissem, praeceptis illorum non satis paruisse.
For you must know that, since I came into the city, I have returned into favor with my old friends, that is, with our books; although I had not abandoned their use because I was angry with them, but because I was somewhat ashamed before them; for I seemed to myself, when I had cast myself into the most turbulent affairs with the most unfaithful allies, not to have sufficiently obeyed their precepts.
ignoscunt mihi, revocant in consuetudinem pristinam teque, quod in eo permanseris, sapientiorem quam me dicunt fuisse.
They forgive me, they recall me to our former intimacy, and they say that you, because you remained in it, were wiser than I.
quam ob rem, quoniam placatis iis utor, videor sperare debere, si te viderim, et ea, quae premant, et ea, quae impendeant, me facile laturum.
Therefore, since I enjoy them now that they are appeased, I seem to have reason to hope that, if I see you, I shall easily bear both those things which oppress and those which threaten.
quam ob rem sive in Tusculano sive in Cumano ad te placebit sive, quod minime velim, Romae dum modo simul simus, perficiam profecto ut id utrique nostrum commodissimum esse diiudicetur.
Therefore, whether it shall please you to be in your Tusculan or in your Cuman villa, or, which I should least wish, in Rome, provided only we are together, I will certainly bring it about that this is judged to be most convenient for both of us.

Notes

  1. 9.1.2eorum me subpudebat — The impersonal verb subpudet (to feel somewhat ashamed) is construed with the accusative of the person feeling the emotion (me) and the genitive of the object causing it (eorum, referring to the books).
  2. 9.1.2teque, quod in eo permanseris — A subordinate clause within the accusative and infinitive construction (te... sapientiorem fuisse) dependent on dicunt. The pronoun eo is neuter and refers to the literary pursuits implied by the books (libris). The subjunctive permanseris is used for a subordinate clause in indirect speech (virtual oblique).
  3. 9.1.2sive in Tusculano sive in Cumano ad te placebit — The phrase ad te placebit (literally 'it will please toward you', meaning 'as it shall please you') is an elliptical or colloquial expression specifying the preferred villa (Tusculan or Cuman), where the subject of placebit (e.g., our meeting) is implied.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §9.1.1-9.1.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:9.1.1-9.1.2

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